Sébastien Loeb, is it over?

Sébastien Loeb will celebrate his 50th birthday next weekend. At least with his supporters. For the occasion, the French driver has organized a big party with Red Bull on the Anneau du Rhin where it will be possible to see the different cars that the Alsatian has driven during his glorious career. But in reality, the nine-time WRC world champion celebrated his half-century last winter. Without it disrupting his daily life.

“Honestly, except when someone talks to me about it, I don’t think about it. My life hasn’t changed at all between the ages of 49 and 50,” he confided on this subject in the columns of the JDD, convinced of being able to remain competitive: “It probably depends on the discipline. I don’t feel like I’ve lost my faculties. But in Formula 1, for example, the drivers are younger. You don’t see any 50-year-old drivers. On the other hand, in rallying, you can fight for victory. I was able to see that two years ago in Monte-Carlo.”

A contract with Dacia which poses a problem

In January 2022, for his last appearance in the WRC, Sébastien Loeb had indeed won his 80^e victory, a few weeks before celebrating his 48th birthday. Enough to make him the oldest winner in history. Could he improve on this record in the years to come? It’s unlikely according to the person concerned. The fault lies in his time at Dacia, with whom the Haguenau native is preparing for the Dakar, his ultimate goal after having already won five podiums there.

“I signed a contract with Dacia for the Dakar. There is always a kind of exclusivity when you sign with a manufacturer. Representing another manufacturer in the WRC like Toyota, Hyundai or Ford would be complicated, he explained. I never asked permission to have fun in rallies like Mont Blanc but representing a manufacturer in the World Championship is different.”
The situation could certainly change in the future if his adventure at Dacia is cut short. “It’s not possible right now.”he added.